How Do I Teach My Pre-School Daughter To Love Her Body?

— April 5, 2016

I was recently having a conversation about women and body image and something stuck out in my mind… the woman I was speaking with said that she doesn’t know a single woman who is totally happy with her body. We all know about the media screwing us up by showing us unrealistically skinny, toned women everywhere and anywhere, about how every picture we see in print is Photo Shopped (unless it’s one of those entertainment magazines who love to snap stars and their cellulite), and that probably every model starves herself to look the way she does. But the thought that if given the chance, there isn’t a woman out there who wouldn’t change something about her body is simply CRAZY.

As a mom, I’m terrified about protecting my daughter from falling prey to the media onslaught, but I don’t know if it’s even possible to keep her immune from harm. At 4 years old, she’s the most petite little thing you ever did see (with a beautifully proportioned body), but even now she is very observant and aware of what is considered “beautiful”. She complains that she doesn’t like her hair curly and wants me to straighten it, or is particular about her clothes. I’m beyond nervous over what’s to come.

I, like every woman, have had my love/hate relationship with my body. People always say, practice what you preach – so I try hard to love my body (flaws and all) in order to teach my daughter the same. At the moment, she is totally self-confident, but I know that this will change someday soon. Many young girls start having eating and emotional disorders as young as age 7 due to poor body image! We can try to teach self-esteem, but at some point, does mommy’s opinion stop counting and what she sees in the media and hears from her friends count more? All I can think to do to keep her on track is keep her active, keep her interested in activities so she feels accomplished, continue to love her, listen to her and encourage her in all she does. At the end of the day, I think what I’ll do most is keep my fingers crossed and hold my breath.

Some references and opinions:

http://thefeministbreeder.com/guest-post-teaching-our-daughters-to-love-their-bodies/